Well, Q-Games has been busy again, and not just on PixelJunk. You may have noticed some new additions to the PlayStation 3’s XMB (Xross Media Bar) with the latest firmware update to version 3.00.

Well, we’re behind the “star dust” and if you haven’t noticed it yet, you’re in for a nice surprise. We wanted to implement something like the beginning of the movie Gattaca but they wouldn’t let us go quite that far, so we settled on the subtle but pretty dust effect you can see now. If you shake the Wireless Controller, you can move them about a bit, as if they are being carried by eddies in the wind.

Also, there are these new things called Dynamic Themes, and we’re proud to say that this is a system we were involved in developing. Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) wanted to spice up the background a bit and static pictures just didn’t cut the mustard. So we collaborated with them to make a system where developers can display what they want and animate and move them around. This definitely adds a little life to the PS3’s background so be sure to try it out.

In fact, go ahead and download our PixelJunk Monsters Dynamic Theme which is now available for $2.99 on the PlayStation Store. Soon you’ll have the little Tikiman running around amongst the trees behind whatever it is you are doing in the XMB. This is actually the very first theme ever made with the system because we used it to test out the features!

Can we PLEASE have atleast 1!!! Dynamic Theme for free plzzz, WORLDWIDE!
I heard that the Afrika Dynamic Theme wass exclusive for Japan and for FREE!!
But I don’t like account spamming and certainly don’t wanna start, plzz = (

Love the new theme. I wish people would stop complaining. Instead, we should be asking for a God of War III theme!!!!!! Or a Metal Gear Solid 4 one. Anyone remember when snake is smoking during the loading time? That would be the best theme ever! Loving the new PJM theme. It’s pretty sweet.

I’m really loving the dynamic themes! <3
Are you guys open to suggestions? I downloaded the God of War 3 image from the official website that is shown on the title screen from the E3 demo (the one with Kratos to the left of the screen) and have got it set to my background.
It would luck incredible to have that as a dynamic theme, seeing him breathing with the flags rippling in the distance.

– FREE dynamic themes worldwide, or atleast software for those who want to create their own.
– Fix the friend list boxes or atleast present them in a way that makes sence.
– Why the lack of avatars? If you announce it for the 3.00 update, why ignoring a support for it?
– Also, make dynamic themes for anything outside of gaming aswell, like nature themes f.e. water drops, water falls, oceanic scenes, rain, sunrises. Basically, would like to see you guys thinking outside of the box for a minute.

ah yes. pixeljunk monsters deluxe. it has almost been forgotten by many, but looks like an AMAZING UBER-TASTIC game. i can not wait for this game to come out, and i do also really want the Monsters theme. any plan for an Eden theme? maybe one with some plants moving back and forth slowly. i’d buy that for sure!

It’s really disappointing that the first dynamic PS3 theme “ever created” isn’t free. I’d have thought the best way to entice people into purchasing these themes would be give one out for free to demonstrate why it’s worth paying for. Not to mention there is not a single dynamic theme, neither free nor premium, available for download for us European PS3 owners.

Anyway, good job anyway. I like the look of the ‘star dust’ background and I’ve checked out the free Afrika theme from the Japanese store so I can definitely see the potential for some great themes. Hopefully some of those will be free.

One thing you guys could do is to make dynamic themes unlockable items in games. I’d love to see an unlockable PixelJunk Shooter theme so please at least consider it.

I thought $2.99 was a little steep, but being as the first dynamic theme was for one of my favorite games on the PS3, I gave it a try and love it. Very cool.

I probably won’t go and spend another $2.99 on just a theme until its for another game that I loved as much as, or more than, LBP, though… like inFAMOUS or MGS4, possibly Uncharted.

Also, I hope premium avatars aren’t too much… $0.49 sounds good, depending on what they do, that is. At any rate, I just want a feature to use unlocked trophy tiles as avatars. How cool would it be to show off that trophy tile for the game you platinum’d before your friends and embrace your inner geek? Plus, it’d open up a HUGE library of avatars with very little work.

Either way, great job with 3.00 – a few things irked me, but here’s hoping those are easily remedied in the future.

Seriously I’ll gladly toss money your way, as if any studio deserves it, you guys take the cake. Pjm and Eden are both amazing psn games, and shooter looks just as spectacular, keep up the great work guys.

Ever since monsters, your games have become an instant day 1 for me without question.

First off THANK YOU Q-GAMES for your continued support of the PSN with the Pixel Junk series and your hard work on the XMB itself. Now maybe you guys could talk Sony into letting you do another music player vizualizer, loved the planet Earth one. Only after you guys have finished putting the final touches on Pixel Junk Shooter of course. With all that said it really feels good to be back online again especially after four months with no internet.

Any Release Date For PixelJunk Eden Shooter, shooter won’t be better than eden, Nothing will ever beat eden, Oh and is there a chance of the pixel junk eden encore soundtrack, i’m dying to get that to listen to garden 12 and 15 on my PlayStation 3, best songs in eden all round.

I will happily give $3 to Q-Games. I’ve purchased every Q-Games title with the exception of Racers, and I plan to continue doing so. These guy’s deserve the money as they continue to pioneer software for PSN and the PS3. Keep up the good work guy’s.

Remember that we’ll be lucky to sell even a few thousand themes and so the cost of developing the theme (3-4 weeks of coder/artist time, checking, testing etc) will still far exceed any money we make from it.

It may not be you as a developer who makes the decision on the price, but how hard is it to understand that if the price was lower, it would sell more. You sell 2000 for 2.99 and the gross income is 5980. 4000 for 1.99 and the gross income is 7960. Sony makes their cut on every sale most likely so its not a direct difference in net profit however more money is more money.

Though I am disappointed in the first theme not being free; like @36-KazeEternal, I recognize the work and cost put in so I find $2.99 a deal coming out. Hopefully this pricepoint can be maintained. I thank you guys for all your work on this as I was actually getting tired of static backgrounds. I literally had stopped using them just to have the wave back and some movement, lol. I welcome the animation, static or controller affected (*hint*shoulder buttons are unused on the XMB*hint*).

I can’t wait to see what your breakthrough brings in from other developers. Hopefully a (cost effective) way may even be found to unlock a free tag-along theme for future popular titles similar to how some games unlock Home items.

Wish we could create our own themes. Things like these are what will cause the ps3 to be hacked- developers and sony trying to charge for something ppl think should be free. I got the Afrika theme but it ain’t too great with the colors hiding text in the xmb, so is there any other theme available on psn?

I appreciate the continued effort by Sony and Q-games to improve functionality of the XMB. So, thank you. However, when you go to messing with the look of the XMB there needs to be an option for users to keep the ‘classic’ view. The friends list backgrounds are almost as annoying as the ‘star dust’. So c’mon with 3.01 and fix some of these great “fixes”

“Dylan Cuthbert replied on September 5, 2009 at 4:22 am
Remember that we’ll be lucky to sell even a few thousand themes and so the cost of developing the theme (3-4 weeks of coder/artist time, checking, testing etc) will still far exceed any money we make from it.”

Oh ok, I had no idea. In that case, I will definitely pick this up. I have everything else Q games has put out!

I know it was probably SCE’s pricing and not yours (you guys are too smart for that)… but $2.99 is too much for just a theme, dynamic or not. It’s past the curve, i.e. at $1 you’d sell more than 3 times as many…

I’m a bit confused as to how there will be no profit on these themes, correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t these largely made up of existing assets already charged for in the games that they are promoting?

The LBP one for example (yes I know it’s not yours), sackboy, the planet and run animations are from the game. Yes I know there would be planning, previs and some minor coding but really, no profit? The Afrika theme was free, I’d hazard a guess and say it was filed under marketing and promotion, which is basically what it is.

In comparison to making a game, the cost would be extremely low. The PJ Monsters theme costs nearly a third of the cost of the game yet I’d doubt it cost Q-Games nearly a third in development time or money.

Profit is largely dependent on how many downloads it gets which no one really knows at this stage.

I think next time a new feature is promoted prior to release it needs to be made quite clear on it being a premium feature as opposed to being a ‘gift’. Then people won’t feel as if they’re being taken for a ride.

Some people are happy to pay the price, those that aren’t won’t feel duped if they’re aware of it before hand. Everyone’s happy and there’s no ill feeling.

“Remember that we’ll be lucky to sell even a few thousand themes and so the cost of developing the theme (3-4 weeks of coder/artist time, checking, testing etc) will still far exceed any money we make from it.”

Then don’t do it! Nobody asked for this so GTFO with your “dynamic themes”.

“Dylan Cuthbert replied on September 5, 2009 at 4:22 am
Remember that we’ll be lucky to sell even a few thousand themes and so the cost of developing the theme (3-4 weeks of coder/artist time, checking, testing etc) will still far exceed any money we make from it.”

Huh? Am I supposed to believe that a theme takes so much to make that you need to sell it? Here I was thinking 1 guy could easily do it in one day IN HIS FREE TIME. Meh. How many themes do you need to make before it becomes easy or is it like developing a game now? If companies can’t do it for free then give those who can the opportunity to.

I even think you guys expect to make money off this which is why you sell it. Dynamic themes are new and have several ps3s to be used on so the time is prime to sell one of the few themes out there